DUE TO THE ONGOING POLITICAL SITUATION IN RUSSIA, ALEXANDR MISKO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM IN THE 2023 IGN TOUR. WE FEEL VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE FOUND TWO EXCELLENT REPLACEMENTS: OLLI SOIKELLI FROM FINLAND, A JAZZ AND GYPSY SWING GUITARIST, WILL BE PLAYING THE AMERICAN SHOWS. ISRAELI NATIVE ITAMAR EREZ, AN EXCELLENT NYLON STRING GUITARIST WHO NOW LIVES IN VANCOUVER, WILL BE PLAYING THE CANADIAN SHOWS.
Here is our 2023 lineup:
For our 23rd year of touring, we are bringing back one of the guitarists from the COVID-postponed 2021 tour, Canadian jazz guitarist and vocalist, and recipient of the 2021 Juno (Canadian Grammy) for Jazz Album Of The Year JOCELYN GOULD. She will be joined by Flamenco master JESUS GUERRERO from Spain; contemporary classical guitarist STEPHANIE JONES, and Gypsy and Jazz guitarist OLLI SOIKKELI from Finland.
Olli Soikkeli was born in Nurmes, Finland in 1991. Now based in New York City. He started playing guitar at age of 12. After a few years of playing Olli was introduced to the music of great Django Reinhardt and Gypsy Jazz has been Ollis main focus ever since. Soon Olli was playing in jazz clubs and festivals all around Finland. After touring all around Europe with musicians such as Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud Van Den Berg Olli decided to move to New York City in 2014. Olli has played legendary venues such as Birdland Jazz Club, Blue Note and the Lincoln Center.
Despite his young age he’s already played with stars such as Bucky Pizzarelli, Stochelo Rosenberg, Tommy Emmanuel, Andreas Öberg, Cyrille Aimee, Anat Cohen, Antti Sarpila and Marian Petrescu.
In 2011 Olli recorded his first album “Trois Générations” with Hot Club de Finlande and Vitali Imereli and in 2012 he recorded his second album “Kouvola Junction” with Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud van den Berg.
(Olli's solo begins at 0.27)
2014 Rhythm Future Quartet’s debut album was released. 2016 Rhythm Future Quartet’s second album ‘Travels’was released which received rave reviews including Best albums of 2016 by Huffington Post and All About Jazz magazines.
The Wall Street Journal wrote: “Olli Soikkeli, a riveting finnish guitarist who combines astonishing dexterity and speed with pure soul in a way that places him among the worthiest current day successors to the legacy of the great Django.”
Stephanie Jones is an active soloist and chamber musician who is currently based in Germany. She has recently finished her Masters and is currently studying a Konzertexamen in Classical Guitar Performance with Thomas Müller-Pering at the prestigious University of Music Franz Liszt.
Stephanie won first prize in both the Uppsala International Guitar Festival Competition and the Hannabach Guitar Competition. She was also a finalist in the Deutscher Gitarrenpries and the Salzburg International Guitar Festival. In 2014, through the Fine Music Network National Competition, Stephanie was awarded the Young Virtuoso of the Year. In 2012, Stephanie competed in the prestigious Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition and subsequently won second prize.
Stephanie has performed extensively around the globe, being invited to a number of festivals and concert series. She has also released two albums, “Colours of Spain” (2015), and “Bach, the Fly, and the Microphone” (2009). Stephanie is also a member of the renowned Weimar Guitar Quartet, this year releasing their debut album. Stephanie is passionate about sharing her music with others and is recognised as an innovative and deeply musical artist.
Jesús Guerrero was born in 1985, in San Fernando (Cadiz), Spain. He started playing guitar at the age of eleven years under the tutelage of master teacher José Luis Balao. Jesus’ natural virtuosity with the instrument and his musical creativity have led him to be one of the most sought-after figures of the current flamenco scene, performing with his trio, in duet with his wife Alba Carmona, and assisting many of the great singers, including Nina Pastori and Miguel Poveda, with their records and live shows.
Jesus graduated in Teaching with a specialty in Musical Education at the University of Cádiz. He won the Premio Flamenco Hoy 2014 for Best Guitar Accompaniment. He has been the musical composer of numerous dance shows for artists like Merche Esmeralda "Last Stop", Molina choro "Notice, Bayles Gypsy," David Coria "Spiral, " Ana Morales "ReciclArte" and "De-Heeled Sandal,” Eduardo Guerrero "Alley of Sins," Andrés Peña "A Fuego Lento," "Órdago To The Big," and "The Air That Brings Me," and Joaquín Grilo "Belmonte."
Jesus was asked to compose the music for "One Silverio ..." and "Flamencolorquiano" Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía, directed by Rafael Estévez. He collaborated in the latest film by Carlos Saura, "Flamenco Flamenco" and has worked with numerous artists like Eva la Yerbabuena, Rafael Campallo, Farruco, Farruca, Pilar Ogalla, Matilde Coral, Nani Cloths, El Londro, Rafael de Utrera, Rocío Márquez, Carmen Linares and Joan Albert Bitter.
Jesus’ passion for American folk music has also led him to collaborate with the Mexican artist Lila Downs, and Soledad Pastorutti, one of the greatest exponents of Argentine folk. In 2016, he released "Calma", his first solo album, which further displayed his musical versatility. In 2022, Jesus will make his North American debut as part of International Guitar Night, which will showcase both his solo skills and his ability to collaborate with other virtuoso guitarists from around the world.
Jocelyn Gould is a Canadian jazz guitarist. Passionate about the tradition of jazz guitar, she cites Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass as primary influences of the instrument. Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, Jocelyn holds a Bachelor of Jazz Studies from University of Manitoba and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University.
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jocelyn's passion for music began very young. Both of Jocelyn's parents played guitar throughout her youth, and Jocelyn learned piano and voice at a young age with her father, who was an elementary school music teacher. After completing high school, Jocelyn initially studied science before switching into to the faculty of music at University of Manitoba to pursue a jazz studies degree on guitar. During her time at the University of Manitoba studied with guitarist Larry Roy, drummer Quincy Davis and saxophonist Jon Gordon.
In 2016, Jocelyn relocated to the United States to pursue her Masters in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University, where she studied with guitarist Randy Napoleon and bassist Rodney Whitaker. Upon graduating, she moved to New York City, where she worked as a guitarist until her relocation to Toronto in the summer 2019 to begin a professorship at Humber College.
Jocelyn maintains an active international performance career. She has performed at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Winnipeg Jazz Festival. She has performed internationally in jazz clubs with acclaimed musicians including Grammy nominated vocalist Freddy Cole, DownBeat Rising Star trombonist Michael Dease, and Etienne Charles and Creole Soul. She currently holds the guitar chair of The Gathering Orchestra, a big band based in Detroit under the directorship of bassist Rodney Whitaker. She has recorded with Michael Dease, Diego Rivera and Randy Napoleon for their upcoming records.
In August, 2018, Jocelyn won 1st place in the Wilson International Jazz Guitar Competition. In June 2021, Jocelyn’s debut record, “Elegant Traveler,” won a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) for Jazz Album Of The Year.
Jocelyn was originally supposed to be a part of the International Guitar Night 2021 Tour. Unfortunately, that was cancelled due to COVID, but she will be back as a member of the International Guitar Night 2023 troupe.
Itamar's music holds a depth and sensitivity that touches listeners deeply.
It blends the delicateness of Middle Eastern music, the freedom found in jazz and the
passion of flamenco, creating a unique sound all his own. Recipient of the 2014 ACUM
Prize for Special Achievement in Jazz and the prestigious 2014 Landau Prize, Itamar Erez
is an internationally renowned composer and guitarist who has shared the stage with such
musicians as Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Jean-Louis Matinier, Zohar Fresco, and others.
Itamar has released 4 CDs so far, two with his quartet The Adama Ensemble: “Desert
Song” (2006) & “Hommage” (2010), “New Dawn” (2013), is a duet collaboration with
Yshai Afterman (percussion), with special guest Antonio Serrano (harmonica).
His most recent CD “Mi Alegria” was released in June 2019 with the support of the
Canada Council for the Arts, and has received raving reviews, both nationally and
internationally, including a nomination for the 2020 Instrumental Artist of the Year Award
from the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Itamar performs internationally and gives workshops and masterclasses, teaching his unique approach to music and piano/guitar playing.
In recent years, Itamar has performed in Canada, USA, Israel, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Austria, Cyprus, Israel, India, Tunisia, Hungary, Colombia & Surinam. Itamar made his Carnegie Hall (NY) debut Apr 2018 performing with the Omar Faruk Tekbilek Ensemble with Ara Dinjkian & Brian Keane as special guests.
Among the venues and festivals that Itamar played throughout his career were: Barbican Hall (London UK), Sydney Opera (Sydney, Australia), the Jerusalem Jazz Festival (Israel), Oman Opera House, The Megaron (Athens, Greece), Schauspiel Leipzig (Germany), Amsterdam Jewish Music Festival (Holland), the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall (NY), and others.
Between September 20th- October 15th 2019, Itamar toured in Europe with ‘Nacht Der Gitarren’. With him on stage were Lulo Reinhardt (Germany), Daniel Stelter (Germany), Yuliya Lonskaya (Belarus). Circa 20 shows were booked in venues in Germany, Holland< and Austria.
During the pandemic, Itamar has presented several online performances commissioned by the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, The Niagara Jazz festival, as well as his own private solo performance.
At the 2021 Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Itamar has participated as a leader of the Itamar Erez Quartet, as well as a workshop facilitator, discussing his musical work, creative process and inspiration. A new CD is in the works, coming out in 2022!
In 2022 Itamar was chosen to showcase his quartet at ‘JazzAhead’ music conference in Bremen (Germany), and presented a 45 min set of his original music.
As a composer, Itamar has written for various chamber ensembles and groups (such as the ‘Sound Of Dragon Ensemble’), as well as numerous pieces for the classical guitar. Compositions such as ‘Yahli’s Lullaby’, ‘Morning Song’, ‘Choro for Lulo’ & ‘Choro Sentimental’ are often played by concert guitarists in recitals. Matt Palmer & Daniel Bolshoy are among the international classical guitarists who played and premiered Itamar’s music.
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IGN 2023 SHOWS
January
*19 TH Tallahassee FL, Florida State University
*20 F Gainesville FL, University of Florida
*21 S Cutler Bay FL, Miami-Dade Cultural Center
*22 SU Ft. Lauderdale FL, The Broward Center
*25 W Victoria BC, University of Victoria (Itamar Erez will replace Olli Soikkeli)
*26 TH Duncan BC, the Cowichan Theatre (Itamar Erez will replace Olli Soikkeli)
*27 F Nanaimo BC, The Port Theatre (Itamar Erez will replace Olli Soikkeli)
*28 S New Westminster BC, Massey Theatre (Itamar Erez will replace Olli Soikkeli)
*30 M Bend OR, The Tower Theatre
February
*2 TH Beaverton OR, Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
*3 F Kent WA, KENTWA Performing Arts Center
*4 S Mt. Vernon WA, The Lincoln Theater
*5 SU Kalispell MT, Flathead Valley Community College
*7 T Big Sky MT, Warren Miller Performing Arts Center
*8 W Bozeman MT, The Ellen Theater
*10 F Ogden UT, Peery’s Egyptian Theatre
*11 S Lone Tree CO, Lone Tree Arts Center
*12 SU Aspen CO, Wheeler Opera House
*14 T Durango CO, Fort Lewis College
*15 W Santa Fe NM, The Lensic Performing Arts Center
*17 F Anchorage AK, The Discovery Theatre
*18 S Anchorage AK, The Discovery Theatre
*19 SU Valdez AK, Valdez Civic Center
*22 W Escondido CA, The California Center for the Arts
*24 F Livermore CA, The Bankhead Theatre
*25 S Saratoga CA, Villa Montalvo
*26 SU Grass Valley CA, The Center for the Arts
*28 T Arcata CA, Humboldt State University
March
*3 F Ketchum ID, Argyros Performing Arts Center
*4 S Ketchum ID, Argyros Performing Arts Center
*8 W Vienna VA, Wolf Trap Barns
*9 TH Vienna VA, Wolf Trap Barns
*11 S Owings Mills MD, The Gordon Center
